Minnesota · Cass County
Hand Lake Fishing guide
Hand Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 289 acres, reaching 57 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
BluegillJust a few7per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 63 fish
2022Lengths measured · 162 fish
2019Lengths measured · 176 fish
2013Lengths measured · 95 fish
2005Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Hand Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 57 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 12.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 57 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | 19" | 28" |
| 2019 | 27" | 17" | 36" |
| 2013 | 22" | 13" | 34" |
| 2005 | 24" | — | 27" |
| 2000 | 22" | 18" | 27" |
| 1995 | 25" | 16" | 34" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,050 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 750 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Hand Lake was conducted on August 22, 2022, by DNR Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at eight sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used at one station, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 22 species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on August 22-24, 2022. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a 2019 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blacknose Shiner, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Hand Lake on August 22nd, 2022, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 16 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 16.4 feet, which was within the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 19.7°C (68.0°F).
TDO3 values near 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are marginal for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations near the thermocline indicate that oxythermal habitat was adequate for Cisco at limited depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2022. However, low dissolved oxygen concentrations (less than 3 mg/L) below the thermocline and warm surface temperatures would likely limit available Cisco habitat within the water column to an extent. Data collected in 1990 indicated suitable oxythermal habitat at that time. When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore do not experience higher levels of stress.
Results from the FIBI survey indicate that the warmwater fish community in Hand Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that is near the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Pine River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Hand Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Hand Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Hand Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Hand Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ponto Lake · 388 ac · 1.8 mi
- Hay Lake · 364 ac · 1.9 mi
- Ada Lake · 963 ac · 2 mi
- Island Lake · 184 ac · 2.7 mi
- Long Lake · 246 ac · 3.1 mi
- Lizzie Lake · 414 ac · 3.6 mi
- Sand Lake · 149 ac · 3.6 mi
- Jail Lake · 184 ac · 3.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Hand Lake?
Hand Lake reaches 57 ft at its deepest point; about 48% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Hand Lake?
Hand Lake covers 289 acres with about 5.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Hand Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Hand Lake average 12.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Hand Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Hand Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2023; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Hand Lake have a public access?
Yes. Hand Lake has one public access site: Hand Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Hand Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Hand Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Hand Lake in 2022, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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